Suspect taken into custody following SWAT situation in Wilkins Township
WILKINS TOWNSHIP, Pa. (KDKA) - It was a tense morning in Wilkins Township as SWAT units surrounded the home of a man who threatened officers with a gun when they were trying to serve an arrest warrant.
No one was injured and the suspect was taken into custody.
Initially, Wilkins Township police say that they were responding to a shoplifting call Friday morning and that they followed the suspect, Damon Roundtree, from that incident to a house on Linhart Street to arrest him.
Officers said Roundtree came to the door with a gun and from there, a standoff ensued. Shortly after that, Allegany County SWAT was called to the scene.
Officers surrounded the house around 7 a.m. and after hours of trying to get Roundtree to come out, SWAT moved in, shooting flash bangs and smoke into the house just before 10:30 a.m.
BREAKING- SWAT standoff in Wilkins Township/Turtle Creek off of Linhart St. We are working to learn more. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/20ydjXOuiA
— Christopher DeRose (@ChrisDeRoseTV) April 14, 2023
Moments later, SWAT units moved into the house, going from room to room. More diversionary explosions were heard and some 15 minutes later, the suspect emerged hands up and was taken into custody.
"The fact that he answered the door with a firearm when he knew it was police at the door -- that's anything but typical," said Wilkins Township Police Chief Randy Lamb. "Unfortunately in this day in age, law enforcement is dealing with a lot of people who think it's okay to challenge us. It's not and it's not going to end well for those people. That message needs to be put out loud and clear."